I adapt quickly enough that it makes chameleons the world over weep with envy.
“Well, now that that’s settled and we’re officially doing this, we should get going. If the Hawthorne name is dying, let’s send it off in a way that no one will be able to forget.”
Chapter 18
Sabrina
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Aflash of lightningis followed by an eardrum-shattering crack of thunder that rattles my bones. Slade walks on my left, holding an umbrella over our heads, while Damian is on my right, soaking up the onslaught of rain drenching him with a serene smile.
“Seriously, get under here before you catch a cold.”
His dark chuckle is followed by a serene smile. “Do you have any idea how long it’s been since I’ve seen a good rain like this? This year’s dry season has stretched on even longer than usual. One stray campfire, and the entire state may well go up in flames. Let me enjoy it; not like I care about ruining their couch or leaving mud in the foyer.” He shoots me a wink as he tips his face towards the skies for the few remaining moments before we reach the front steps of the Alodia mansion. “Though I must say, I like the way you worry over me. Makes me wish I could actually catch a cold so I could enjoy you fussing over me.”
“Might have expedited healing, but you’re not immortal, so be careful what you wish for. All fun and games until you’re on death’s door from an infection, or you get an arm lopped off. Sexy nurses are good for porn, not when you can’t get it up due to an insane fever.”
Striding up the front steps, it’s impossible to keep the flashbacks and comparisons at bay. The last time I was here was Emmy’s final courting dinner, the one that irrevocably changed the course of my entire life. Everything seemed so overwhelming and exhilarating back then, and the concept is honestly laughable now in my ignorance. My biggest worry used to be losing my best friend and getting my heart broken. Now, it’s failure. I hold several people’s lives in my hands, and one wrong call can result in a ripple effect of death and destruction.
I’m an alpha. It’s not supposed to be about me, or what I want.
So then why can’t I bring myself to sacrifice my happiness for the sake of the greater good? I’m greedy and selfish; I want it all. I respect myself enoughnotto consider my life cannon fodder, worth less than those around me that I’m fighting for, the ones that I want to protect.
I want to drag them to the topwithme, even if we’re bloodied and broken by the time we reach the peak.
Slade chuckles. “I’m sure if anyone can force a limb to regenerate simply to lord the ability over the rest of us, it’s Damian.”
The man in question snorts. “Bullshit, that’d be Hunter and you damn well know it. That man lives and breathes spite like a second language.”
It’s a sweet attempt at a distraction, but regardless, we’re all on edge. Despite the playful banter, we’re straining our senses, constantly assessing our surroundings. Once we cross the threshold everything will be up in the air, so we’re all worried. Sure, we hypothesized every situation we could think of in an attempt to prepare ourselves, but that’s all it was; guesswork. Ultimately, we chose to trust not only in ourselves, but in each other, which wasn’t an easy sell to this lot of stubborn men.
There aren’t any security check points on the steps this time, we simply stride up to the front doors unimpeded and knock. Two minutes pass before they creak open to reveal a face that I don’t recognize, which isn’t a surprise, though it seems vaguely familiar. Slade, on the other hand, doesn’t have the same issue, well-versed in the surrounding families.
“Joshua.” He tips his head respectfully as custom dictates. “Apologies for disturbing you so late, but we were hoping to speak with the interim head of the family, if one’s been selected.”
That must be a real clusterfuck. Having to wait around until a new alpha’s born, managing the position when you’ve never been trained for it? Then simply handing the power over to a teenager that you’ve watched go through the terrible twos and respecting and trusting him enough to decide your fate. I can see why there are so many issues with royal families.
